Another CEA question

vinny3

Hi all,

Summary: Dx with rectal cancer 4/05, treated with chemo/radiation and then local excision; recurrance 4/06, treated with AP resection/colostomy and 9 cycles of Folfox chemo ending 11/06.
All my CEAs had been less than 1 or 1 until 4 weeks ago when it had risen to 3.5. CT scan had questionable area of markings but PET was negative.

My question is: has anyone had their CEA rise like that and not have it be due to the cancer. Now I know that some have had elevation of CEA when starting chemo and also that it is not necessarily very accurate. Would feel better, however, if there are others with CEA rises without it being due to the cancer.

Thanks, ****

hopefulone

No experience on this one ****, but I sincerely hope that someone will respond with the answer your looking for. God Bless,
Diane

Allen55555

In April 2004 I had surgury for stage 3B colon cancer. Prior to surgery my cea was 2.3. After surgery my cea was 1.3 During chemo my cea slowly rose to 3.6 and after chemo my cea dropped to 2.5. Several months after chemo my cea again incresed to 3.6. Since then it has slowly dropped to a current value of 1.2. My changes were slow versus a quick change. I also had a questionable CT in 2005 but CT/PET scans have been good for the past two years. Good luck

jana11

Talk to your onc about it. I know there are a variety of reasons CEA may rise a tiny bit, including URI (upper resp infection).

Just continue to watch carefully! My CEA stayed <1 for 4 years and then went up. Hope yours does NOT!!! jana

changing

Sorry I can't help but Allen's answer should help. Praying for you!

PGLGreg

My CEA rose from <1 to 1.3 last March, 1.3 years after LAR for rectal cancer, then was back to 0.9 a week ago.

Greg